Baka-Tsuki - User contributions [en]

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume5 Chapter2 1

2008-10-04T12:41:44Z

Lilm07: minor edit ;)

===<noinclude>A gift from a rare visitor. </noinclude>Part 1.===

Without ado, after school at the start of February... A rare visitor appeared at the Rose Mansion.

"Gokigenyou, is anyone there? Well, nevermind that, I showed up because I knew the boutons would be here."

"---"

Yumi had been sent to check on the visitor, and upon seeing that oh-so-distinctive fearless laugh, couldn't help but want to turn around and run back up the stairs. Why was this person here?

"Oh, my, how bent back. Like a puppy with its tail curled into its belly."

"P, puppy…"
"We had not yet exchanged greetings. Gokigenyou."

"… Gokigenyou. Welcome to the Rose Mansion."

Yumi said, as she had no other choice. Not that she really wanted to welcome her.

"I've come to speak to the boutons today, are they on the second floor?"

"Um."

"Then allow me in, please."

"Uh."

But she didn't wait for an answer as she helped herself into the building and climbed the stairs. So Yumi quickly followed.

The newspaper club captain, Tsukiyama Minako-sama, showed up very boldly today, for an astonishing change. Normally she sniffed around like a dog for scoops.

You needed to exercise extreme caution around her. Whenever you happened upon a scene, she would always, always be in the area. Was she causing everything, or do happenings call upon her? Anyway, to Yumi, she was like a "god you shouldn't wake up." Maybe she even lives on the northeastern direction from the Rose Mansion – oh, what an un-Catholic thought.

When they arrived at the biscuit-shaped door, Yumi forced herself in front.

"Umm, Tsukiyama Minako-sama."

Maybe she was too hasty as she announced it. Because Minako-sama pushed Yumi's face to the side and peered in.

"How rude. You're like a vassal announcing an enemy attack."

But it's true, Yumi wanted to interject. But the opponent was an upperclassman, and was a guest, too, so she stopped herself.

That's when.

"Indeed. Yumi, you need to calm down a bit."

Sachiko-sama, who was sipping tea while seated, placed her cup back on the saucer, stood up elegantly, and welcomed Minako-sama.

"I apologize on behalf of my sister. Welcome, Minako-san."

It was like a bourgeois wife greeting a visitor at an upper-class party, that was how ostentatious her treatment was. If it was a shoujo manga, she'd have flowers as her background, and if it was a movie, the background music would be baroque, despite there being no musicians in the vicinity.

They didn't have to act so amicable to one another, Yumi thought, as she pouted. Plus, she called her (cute) sister "not calm enough" in front of everyone.

It wasn't fun, but Yumi decided to look at it from another perspective. After all, Sachiko-sama was always strict to those around her, while being gracious to the actions of others. So Sachiko-sama, as Yumi's "onee-sama," was treating her like a close person.

Minako-sama sat down at the chair pulled out for her and crossed her legs. She seemed to have been straining to compose herself with dignity, but sadly, in contrast to the born-and-raised princess, Sachiko-sama, she looked like a monkey's imitation. But that didn't perturb Minako-sama at all.

"Sorry for your intruding upon your friendly chatter."

"No, don't worry yourself. Shall we have tea together?"

The room was filled with the usual members, excluding the Roses, whom were busy with exam studies. Sachiko-sama, Rei-sama, Shimako-san, the three boutons, plus Yoshino-san and Yumi.

The moment Sachiko-sama's glossy lips said "tea" Yoshino-san jumped up, but she then said, "Yumi," so it became Yumi's job.
At first, she thought about making super-bitter tea, but that was too immature. What was the point in exacting revenge by making her drink super-bitter tea, anyway? And Sachiko-sama didn't single her out to do something like that.

Please, she said as she placed warm black tea in front of Minako-sama, and then she wordlessly resumed sitting next to Sachiko-sama. Was she watching her the entire time? As she sat down, she locked eyes with Sachiko-sama for a moment, and she felt her heart skip, but it wasn't a throbbing heart. No, it was more that she felt her malicious intent seen through, and became a bit scared. Though, in reality, she didn't do anything to the tea.

To calm herself down, Yumi reached out to her own cup. Judging by the temperature of the cup, she could tell it was no longer hot tea, but rather more like ice-less iced tea. Nevertheless, she was about to take a sip.

"What do you have planned for Valentine's Day?"

[[Image:MM_v05_04.jpg|thumb]]
She was about to spew the tea back out because of what Minako-sama brought up.

"Valentine's Day?"

Yoshino-san and Shimako-san and Rei-sama all simultaneously turned to look at Yumi. Tsutako-san would have done the same, too, if she were here.

And of course, Sachiko-sama did not. Never taking her eyes off the guest, she merely raised an eyebrow and calmly asked.

"I seem to have heard you asking about my plans for Valentine's Day, am I right, Minako-san?"

"Y, yes."

She seemed to have wilted a bit under Sachiko-sama's cold gaze, but as you'd expect from the newspaper club captain, and editor of the "Lillian Kawaraban," after a quick, deep breath, she resumed explaining herself.

Of course, she already knew what the students of the Rose Mansion thought of her. "Despite that," she came here, so she must have had her reasons. She wouldn't turn tail and run at a mere gaze.

"Valentine's Day, isn't it wonderful, to express your hidden feelings to people?"

Minako-sama suddenly stood up, intertwined her fingers in front of her heart, and looked at the wall with dreamy eyes. Not that she was interested in the structuring or materials of the wall, but rather, everyone else was seated, so there was nothing else that would be in front of her eyes, so she ended up looking like she was staring at a wall. But her heart was past the wall, in some dream land beyond.

Minako-sama spoke about the religious nature of Valentine's Day, similar to Shimako-san's explanation the day before, and then spoke passionately about how the fourteenth of February, as Valentine's Day, had become a day of confessing love. There were plenty of explanations for why this happened, but the one Minako-sama chose to use was that it was around this season that birds mated. Yumi had no idea.

"We understand Minako-san is passionate about the fourteenth of February."

Sachiko-sama coughed. She looked relaxed, but she seemed to have been straining to remain silent throughout Minako-sama's one-sided discussion. She quickly dabbed at her sweat with a laced handkerchief before continuing.

"But it is difficult to discern how your passionate Valentine's Day has any relation to us."

"My, after all this explanation?"

Minako-sama feigned surprise. She definitely stood out in this room.

"Umm, Minako-san. Please be direct."

Rei-sama cut in, like her paralysis had worn off. Yumi also nodded, deep down. Minako-sama said, "after all this explanation," but at the very least, Yumi didn't know what she wanted to say. And given everyone's puzzled faces, aside from Minako-sama, no one understood.

"Oh, really?"

Finally realizing how everyone felt, she took documents out of a brown envelope she had brought with her.

"Directly, right? Well then, please keep your February fourteenth open, on behalf of the newspaper club."

"Huh!?"

The boutons aside, Yoshino-san and Yumi both shouted. It was direct, alright, but this time it felt like she'd skipped a ton of things and ended up firing a shot from the blue.

"In other words, I'd like to request help on a Valentine's Day project. A joint effort between the Yamayurikai and the newspaper club, to make the day more exciting. Wouldn't you like the regular students to enjoy themselves for day? And judging by everyone's reactions, the Yamayurikai has nothing specific planned."

Minako-sama took it upon herself to distribute the documents among the boutons, as they'd stayed on the table, untouched.

"What do you plan to do?"

Sachiko-sama asked, as she drew the document to her.

There were only enough of the cleanly-printed A4 pages for the boutons, so Yoshino-san and Yumi both looked over their onee-sama's shoulders.

"If you'd take a look at the project plans-"

"'Treasure Hunt, where're the boutons' chocolate!?' … What in the world is this?"

Rei-sama stood up and smacked Minako-sama's plans. Well, of course. Because that plan that was shoved in front of them without any warning included their participation. And not just as a "supporting cast" but as a "main personality."

"Just as it reads. The boutons hide handmade chocolate somewhere in the school. And the students that find them win."

Minako-sama, still seated, smiled up at the standing Rei-sama.

"So there would be up to three winners."

Sachiko-sama's chocolate, Rei-sama's chocolate, Shimako-san's chocolate. They would each hide chocolate, and it would be a game to find them. Minako-sama's plan slowly became understandable.

A treasure hunt. It sounded a bit exciting.

"But I don't get it. Why would the newspaper club captain bring this to the Yamayurikai?"

They'd been bothered enough, why would they end up doing most of the work this time, too? After all, the "Lillian Kawaraban" newspaper had always done things on its own, so it was rather independent from the Yamayurikai. Plus, the Yamayurikai staff labeled the newspaper club as "a bother," so they were still looking at this like there would be a trap somewhere.

"I understand, completely, Rei-san. Unfortunately, the newspaper club has no flowers."

"Flowers."

Rei-sama was still standing, so Yoshino-san said, "Would you like a seat, onee-sama?" and dragged her to a seat.

"Events are more exciting with more participants. And to get participants, the reward needs to be attractive. But we don't have much funds, so it's not like we can buy an expensive prize, right? And that's why we're requesting help from the boutons. Understand?"

So they would pool the Yamayurikai and newspaper club's resources and pay for the event, Minako-sama explained. Well, the event funding would be the ingredients for chocolate and the costs of wrapping. She'd already estimated a figure, and listed that in the plan. Minako-sama was far more level-headed than Yumi had thought.

"And, the newspaper club's merit?"

That newspaper club would never act without something to gain. Knowing that, Rei-sama asked.

"What a direct question, Rei-san."

Minako-sama tilted her head just a bit, and laughed.

"Oh well. I hate skirting the edges, personality-wise."

"Alright. Then, I'll say it 'directly,' as Rei-san wishes. If this event were to come to fruition, the 'Lillian Kawaraban' gets to monopolize the reporting."

An exclusive report on a Valentine's Day event!

"… Sounds like something the newspaper club would come up with."

Exasperated, Sachiko-sama sighed as secretively as possible. And then she placed her paper on the table.

"I appreciate the idea, but we won't cooperate. There are too many things we don't agree upon."

"Tell me them. We're open to changing things to gain your support."

"There're lots, but the definitive problem is chocolate."

"Chocolate?"

"Oh, that stuck me, too."

Rei-sama raised her hand, agreeing with Sachiko-sama.

"I understand they would be as a prize for the treasure hunt, chocolate is no good."

Chocolate is supposed to be eaten deliciously. So the "no good" might have been used by design, Yumi could tell that much. Rei-sama was trying to say that chocolate wouldn't work as the "treasure."

"I get it, because it's too bulky!"

Yumi blurted out what she was thinking. And everyone immediately turned to her. Sachiko-sama wasn't even drinking, but she looked very bitter.

"S, sorry."

But when she quickly lowered her head, her forehead slammed into the table. Now she was definitely in a corner, alone.

"… Yumi, you'll confuse everyone, please be quiet."

"Yes…"

Why does it always end like this? How wonderful would it be if she didn't have to raise her head from the table, ever again?

"Are you okay?"

Yoshino-san asked, suppressing laughter.

"… Yes."

Rubbing her forehead, and on the verge of tears, Yumi answered. Her forehead hurt quite a bit, but the damage to her heart might be greater. She'd embarrassed her onee-sama again.

"Sachiko-sama and Rei-sama are probably worried about the sanitary issues?"

Maybe she was trying to help a classmate, because Shimako-san returned to the subject.

"To be concise, yes, something like that."

"The problem is definitely the handmade part. Even with store-bought chocolate, leaving something people will eat unattended for so long is a problem."

The handsome-looking Rei-sama received plenty of chocolate from students every year, apparently. And the shy ones would leave them in her shoebox or on her desk. And most of those had no names, so even Yumi realized that would be a bit scary. Though up until then she used to think, attractive people got to eat a lot of chocolate every year.

There was nothing wrong with the boutons' handmade chocolate, but if something were to happen, it'd be terrible, and even worse, if someone found it earlier and acted maliciously, well, it was difficult to agree with using food as a "treasure."

But it was amazing they could think that far ahead. Though in a way that's to be expected of the boutons. Yumi couldn't help but respect her onee-sama even more. Yumi had now completely bounced back from her red-faced embarrassment moments earlier. –But that blessedness was a mere fleeting moment. Because the next moment, onee-sama's words seemed to hammer Yumi into pieces.

"Personally, I have doubts about the practice of bringing chocolate to school, in general."

She was saved by being seated, otherwise she may have dived out the window. Sachiko-sama continued.

"I know the teachers let it pass. But I feel sick just imagining the school smelling like chocolate on the fourteenth."

"---"

Sachiko-sama didn't seem to think fondly of Valentine's Day. And the finishing blow.

"Plus, having chocolate pressed onto you is simply a bother."

(… Umm.)

Yumi tried to remain collected as she organized her thoughts.

But no matter how hard she tried to remain cool, she became too agitated, and the answer that came up was always the same.

A bother.

(Then my plan to give her chocolate is futile-)

At first, she simply felt shock, but as time passed, she felt more and more depressed.

"Alright."

Minako-sama nodded.

"Indeed, the idea of hiding chocolate was a bit reckless. After all, with the school filled with chocolate on the fourteenth, it would also become difficult discerning what's a prize and what's not."

Yumi thought she'd give up, then, but there was no way the newspaper club captain would give up that quickly. That might be a trait Yumi could learn from.

"Give me a moment, please."

Minako-sama went into a solo planning time and, staring at her planning sheet, began mumbling to herself. And after five minutes.

"Would you cooperate if we changed the treasure?"

"Change? What are you thinking of?"

"A hand-written Valentine's Card. After all, the original fourteenth of February involved the presenting of cards, rather than chocolate."

Indeed, Minako-sama was thinking hard about this.

-However.

"Is a hand-written card that attractive?"

Shimako-san mumbled. Is it suitable for a treasure hunt prize? The prize for a long, arduous hunt was just a sheet of paper, that did sound a bit weak. But compared to handmade chocolate, it was cheaper and less of a hassle, so it might work.

Sachiko-sama and Rei-sama seemed to agree. Was their own writing valuable enough to attract students, or not? Not being modest, but through calm, cool thinking, they decided, no.

A handwritten letter was lacking in excitement. And the newspaper club, trying to use this for as reporting material, would end up whiffing.

Yumi would have gladly received a hand-written letter by Sachiko-sama, but that would be screaming "sister-obsession" so she kept silent.

"If the boutons agree, then we can move on to the next idea."

Minako-sama's eyes glittered as she spoke. When she looked like this, she was no doubt thinking of something wild, so that's when she was most dangerous.

"Then let's make it more attractive."

Minako-sama seemed to realize this was her chance to become aggressive, so she leaned over.

"Make it more attractive?"

"Like the card being a ticket to the real prize?"

"Real prize?"

What would that be, everyone asked. The card itself wasn't the prize, after all?

"Like, the prize would be a half-day date."

"Objection!!"
Before Minako-sama could even finish, Yoshino-san stood up and shouted.

"Objection, objection, absolute objection! That's wrong! Turning personal time into a reward is wrong!"

Yoshino-san, she was in such panic, that she completely shed her weak image. Even if people had gotten a glimpse of her audaciousness, Yoshino-san's myth still stood strong, so people like Minako-sama who'd only seen her from afar might be taken aback. Look, even now, she was clearly more disturbed than when the tall Rei-sama had given her a scary look.

"Yumi-san, you object, too, don't you?"

"Eh."

Well of course she'd object, too, right? Is the glare Yoshino-san shot at her. She wasn't an enemy, so she'd appreciate if she was treated more kindly.

"Uh…mm."

Yumi finally thought about it. Well, she'd been struggling to keep up, so she hadn't had time to consider it herself. To begin with, she was still trying to shake off her failure a few moments ago, and was trying to act as inconspicuously as possible.

Approve, or object.

Well, if she had to answer, she'd probably object. Because, she didn't want her own onee-sama, Sachiko-sama, to be with someone else. Yoshino-san was talking about personal time, but she was probably against the idea of her precious Rei-sama being with someone else. If this was about the Roses instead of the boutons, she probably wouldn't object this much.

(But.)

If she were to think about it as someone who was just helping out at the Rose Mansion? The Yamayurikai were trying to lose the hedge between them and the common student, to make it a friendlier student council. So that the Roses wouldn't become so deified, so they'd become more approachable.

If the next Roses, the boutons, were to interact with the students, wouldn't that be a plus for the Yamayurikai?

But despite that honor student-like thought, a part of her still burned with jealousy.

"There's school on Valentine's Day, though."

Shimako-san asked Minako-sama.

"Yes, so the treasure hunt is planned for just an hour after school. Don't worry. As long as we get enough participants, an hour should be enough to find the treasure, isn't it? If it still can't be found then, then it's hidden somewhere that would take at least half of a day to find. So we would just keep them for an hour after school, that day-"

Even as Yumi pondered, the idea was moved forward. Come to think of it, accepting or objecting was really up to the boutons. Their sisters' opinions were just an example.

"And the date would be on Sunday."

"Objection! Objection!"

Yoshino-san was forcing the issue by constantly shouting. She was completely in hysteria. So Rei-sama placed a hand over Yoshino-san's mouth to quiet her. Indeed, with that sort of "objection!" mantra, nothing would get done.

"What do you think?"

After the explanation was done, Sachiko-sama turned to the other two boutons.

"While the idea of a treasure hunt sounds interesting."

Shimako-san didn't look like she was too happy with the idea.

"The sticking point is the half-day date. I'm not as bad as Yoshino, but I don't like the idea of making humans the prize."

Rei-sama agreed with the person to her right. But Shimako-san's reason for objecting was partly the half-day date, and partly because of Valentine's Day. After all, it was supposed to be a day of commemorating Saint Valentine, rather than a day of confessing love.

"I also object. Then we unanimously turn down the proposal."

When she said that, Sachiko-sama collected the project proposals and returned them to Minako-sama.

"Wait a second."

Minako-san was becoming flustered. Placing the proposal sheets back on the table, she desperately pleaded.

"Could you at least think about it over night?"

"It would feel bad giving you false hopes."

"If you would feel bad!"

Minako-sama looked into Sachiko-sama, Rei-sama and Shimako-san's eyes. Of course, she didn't even glance at the sisters.

"Sympathy for a warrior, could you at least wait until after school tomorrow?"

Sympathy for warrior? What era was Minako-sama from?

"I walked dramatically out of the clubhouse, please don't turn me down right on the spot."

No matter how much she tried to talk her way through, since her opponents were of the same year, it seemed futile. And of course, it didn't work on Sachiko-sama at all, as she received a cold response.

"Then you may keep quiet about it now, and tell them tomorrow."

"Oh, please. The moment I walk back, I'll be questioned until I spill the beans. My little sister is quite persistent."

"That's not our problem."

The closest to a warrior in the room, Rei-sama, had no sympathy for a warrior, either. Sachiko-sama and Rei-sama were steadfast, and that somewhat pitiable Minako-sama turned to Shimako-san, her last hope, and grasped her hand.

"Shimako-san, please."

"… Even if you say please…"

"Your senpai is begging you this much, can't you do anything?"

Wow.
If she can't beg, then she threatens. If you can't push, then pull.

"Oh come on, Minako-san, don't you think trying to get a kouhai to help you by pulling the senpai trick is unfair?"

Rei-sama looked angry, as she hated such things.

"Call it what you want, as long as the answer is delayed, I don't mind."

(Eek…)

Yumi, who was listening without standing out, stepped back at Minako-sama's words.

Minako-sama was really a self-serving person. As long as it was for her newspaper, she was willing to do anything. That is one way of living, though.

"-Gosh."

After "call it what you want," there was nothing more to say. Rei-sama lowered her shoulders, exasperated, and Sachiko-sama sighed. And Shimako-san's clear voice sounded.

"Then how about this. Prolonging our answer by one day does no harm, and if that's the case, we can await our decision until tomorrow."

There didn't seem to be any other way to settle the matter. It was Minako-sama, after all, she seemed the type to keep everyone hostage in the Rose Mansion until they agreed. They agreed that they'd leave the final decision until tomorrow, and that they'd be better off with Minako-sama departing earlier.

"Fine. But Minako-san, nothing will change our decision, so please don't hold any weird hopes."

Rei-sama repeated. That tomorrow, she'd hear the exact same answer. But Minako-sama smiled, satisfied.

"I understand. Thank you. I shall return tomorrow, after school."

Before they changed their minds, seemed her purpose, as she dashed out of the room.

"Oh, take the proposals with you."

Sachiko-sama called out.

"Tomorrow, tomorrow."

Minako-sama called back, without turning around, and vanished beyond the biscuit-shaped door. Yumi heard the steps creaking to the tune of skipping.

"What was that?"

Sachiko-sama muttered, and everyone tilted their heads, "Who knows?"

She was that excited with the decision delayed a single day. What was Minako-sama thinking?

"Is it really okay?"

The first thing Yoshino-san said after being freed from Rei-sama was that.

"Okay?"

"Because they're the newspaper club."

Yoshino-san was sharp. After all she'd done, Minako-sama's inexplicable move was troubling.

"But, like Shimako said, there's nothing to trouble us by delaying it."

Rei-sama cackled.

"Indeed. I don't think anyone would change in a single day."

"Yes."

Sachiko-sama and Shimako-san nodded. They were strong-willed people, so they probably wouldn't retract their own decisions that easily.

But, they were underestimating her.

Just a single day.

Just by delaying things a single day, trouble did begin.

In a way, Minako-sama was a Yamayurikai maniac. She knew exactly how to make the boutons act.

<noinclude>
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;"
|-
| Return to [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru|Main Page]]
| Back to [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter1_4|Chapter 1 Part 4]]
| Forward to [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter2_2|Part 2]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume5 Chapter1 3

2008-10-03T16:25:15Z

Lilm07: just changed some subject-verb agreements. ;)

===<noinclude>Research. </noinclude>Part 3.===

"Of course."
Tsutako-san laughed heartily.

"Yoshino-san and Shimako-san are both unique cases, Yumi-san's in the wrong for trying to use them as an example."

"Hmm."

Yumi folded her arms and groaned; she didn't need to be told that. It was the afternoon of the day Shimako-san had told her, "I'm sorry." On the way to the science room for class changing, Tsutako-san pointed her pocket-sized camera at Yumi in the hallway.

"But there's no point in asking me, either. Unfortunately, I have neither older sister nor little sister."

Yumi wouldn't have even thought about asking, anyways.

"Tsutako-san, don't you have anyone you look up to in your club, at least?"

"Nope."

An immediate answer, after moving her face away from her camera. And then she said, "Who do you think I am?"

"The photography club ace, Takeshima Tsutako-san."

"Exactly."

Her frameless glasses glimmered.

"Do you think there's someone in Lillian with better photography skills?"

Tsutako-san's answer seemed a bit off the mark from the question. She'd taken "look up to" as "respect," and then taken that to a "goal" perspective. Though in her case, it might be that the starting condition for a senpai would be someone better than her, so in a way, it wasn't really that off.

"Oh, what a shame."
"What?"
"Take it as an opportunity to be in the spotlight."

"Like Yoshino-san? Please."

Feeling daunted by just the prospects of it, Tsutako-san pulled her head back. Maybe she remembered the "Yellow Rose Revolution." Speaking of which, Tsutako-san completely left the originators aside, and instead rebuked the follow-up break-up sisters.

Think about it, said Tsutako-san as her eyes glittered.

"Lillian is filled with wonderful students. Do you think I can narrow that down to a single person? First of all, think about what would happen if I found a sibling. What if an obstacle were to arise, like her demanding I only take pictures of her?"
"I see."

Which meant Tsutako-san had resolved to be alone for the whole three years. What a splendid resolve, or something. Because on the other hand, it also meant she had no intention of changing her ways. Yumi thought she should re-think her peeping photos, though.

(However.)

As expected, Tsutako-san wouldn't be any help, either. Yumi reflexively sighed, and instead of an apology, Tsutako-san gave a point of advice.

"You might get advice if you ask Katsura-san and others, but it'd be a waste of effort to ask."

"Why?"

"Oh, can't you imagine it now, the stereotypical Valentine's Day."

"Mmm."

True. –Though that's a bit rude to Katsura-san. But Katsura-san and the others really did try to live a fairy-tale school life. But maybe Valentine's Day would bring out something off the wall for them.

"Yumi-san, you should think about what you were actually looking for, and start over again."

"What I was actually looking for?"

"Why're you gathering information. You know, because the person you're giving chocolate to is so big, right? So you want to set everything up perfectly, right? Then there's no point in asking normal students. Really, the only people who could possibly be of any help would be those in the Rose Mansion, am I right?"

"But Yoshino-san and Shimako-san were of no help."

"Why do you have to ask first-years?"

"What? But I'm a first-year…"

Mumbled Yumi, and Tsutako-san, exasperated, lifted her index finger.

"Second-years and third-years experienced being first-years, too."

She said.

<noinclude>
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;"
|-
| Return to [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru|Main Page]]
| Back to [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter1_2|Part 2]]
| Forward to [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter1_4|Part 4]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume5 Chapter1 4

2008-10-02T20:00:02Z

Lilm07: just changing some punctuations and taking off unnecessary ones, then trying to make it much easier to read.

===<noinclude>Research. </noinclude>Part 4.===

"Chocolate for onee-sama? Yes, I gave her some last year, why?"

After finishing her cleaning duty, Yumi had ran to the martial arts building at the back of the school and caught Rei-sama before club activities began.

"Ah, umm, I was hoping for some references. Umm, you didn't… give her a super large chocolate cake, did you?"

"Oh come on. I can't bring that to school."

Rei-sama cackled, then mumbled, "Yoshino must have talked," while looking proud. Oh, no. Rei-sama doesn't get how Yoshino-san feels, at all. She wasn't bragging about the super large chocolate cake, but rather quite the opposite.

But Yoshino-san's agony wasn't important here, so Yumi felt sorry for her, but decided to leave it aside.

"Indeed."

She concurred, laughing, hahahah.

"Just a trite thing. Something that fits in a bag."

Using her thumbs and index fingers, Rei-sama made a square. It was around the size of a book. Something that size could be called "trite," and it would be perfectly safe to bring to school.

In a sense, her treatment of Yoshino-san and Rosa Foetida was wildly different, but on the other hand, the only person she could make a super large chocolate cake for was her neighbor. And of course, to Yoshino-san, that could also be called a "heavy burden."

Finally, someone I could use as a reference, Yumi thought. Tsutako-san was right, after all. Indeed, things went smoother by asking people who were first-years last year. Plus, since it was in the past, there was the added bonus of knowing the effects. So she could ask the onee-sama who received the chocolate, and would be able to set up a perfect Valentine's Day.

Last year, Rei-sama was the sister of a bouton, like Yumi, so she was the perfect person to ask. And only because there was no way she could ask Sachiko-sama, whom she was going to give the chocolate to.

"So what was it?"

She asked, excited. Pure chocolate by a famous chocolate company? Adult-flavored chocolate bonbons?

"What was it? Oh, the chocolate?"

In Yumi's mind, she was already thinking back to the department store's chocolate display. High-class chocolate in modest-looking boxes seemed like such a perfect fit.

"Umm, if I may ask, for reference's sake."

What would she do if she were told, they were dried-plum-sized chocolate worth several hundred yen? But the opponent was cheap chocolates might not fit Sachiko-sama's tastes. But at the same time, Yumi decided that if she'd have to use up her New Year's money, she would, and that's when Rei-sama answered.

"Bitter chocolate truffles. I think six in a box."

"Truffles."

What an expensive echo. The little, dried-plum-sized chocolate in the department window might have had that name too, yes, and they were absurdly expensive.

And Yumi, being a commoner, quickly began calculating in her head.

If they were 200 yen each, it'd be 1,200 yen.

300 yen would be 1,800 yen.

400 yen would be 2,400 yen.

500 yen would be- she stopped. She felt a bit faint. Because for a commoner, the thought of six balls of chocolate costing 3,000 yen was unbelievable.

Even though she attended a ladies' school, it was troublesome to be bundled up together. Because each household had different fortunes and assets. She knew this from the start, but when she visited Sachiko-sama's house over New Year's, it was really hammered home.

Even though they both lived in Japan, and both attended the same school, they were really, really different in terms of value. Not that she was dissatisfied with her home or anything.

"What's wrong, Yumi-chan?"

"I feel faint."

Little bills were flying around chocolate like butterflies, in her head.

"Did the thought of giving truffles to Sachiko exhaust you?"

"Umm, something like that."

"Don't worry, it's not that bad, give it a shot!"

"---"

Not that bad? Maybe Rei-sama, who seemed like someone closer to her in terms of class stature, actually wasn't? "Give it a shot", she said. Yumi felt like withering.

And, the more expensive it became, it also felt like she was going further and further away from her original intention of giving Valentine's chocolate. Maybe that was a vulgar way of thinking, though.

"I'll write the recipe down for you."

Rei-sama pet Yumi's head and smiled.

"Re, recipe?"

"If you want to make truffles. I'll help you a bit, just keep it a secret from Sachiko."

That's when Yumi realized.

"Um, umm, do you mean, how to make truffle chocolates, when you said recipe?"

"Mm?"

Rei-sama's confused face spoke volumes. The chocolate Rei-sama gave Rosa Foetida was, like what she gave Yoshino-san, handmade.

"What, Yumi-chan?"

"… nevermind."

Yumi mumbled. There was no need to confess having made the wrong assumption.

Rei-sama was superhuman. On one hand, chocolate truffles and on the other hand, chocolate cake. And she made them both almost simultaneously.

But, in the end, it wouldn't be much of a reference, after all. It wasn't something to brag about, but the most Yumi'd ever done with baking was help her mother bake doughnuts by taking them out of the moulds. So to tell that sort of person here, try making chocolate truffles? Skill was a bigger problem than money.

Rei-sama said she'd help, but if it ended up with her doing most of the work, she wouldn't be able to make truffles next year. And if Rei-sama did more than half, it would lose the "handmade" part of the gift. But all that said, Yumi'd never even imagined making truffles by hand.

"Thank you very much. I'll think about it."

Yumi bowed her head and dashed away. She'd underestimated things, fixating on chocolate, and now she felt like she had nowhere to go.

<noinclude>
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;"
|-
| Return to [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru|Main Page]]
| Back to [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter1_3|Part 3]]
| Forward to [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter2_1|Chapter 2 Part 1]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

User talk:Lilm07

2008-09-30T15:51:25Z

Lilm07: New page: about me: hmmm.... what about me?! I'm cute! lol. I'll edit this page later

about me:

hmmm....

what about me?!

I'm cute!

lol.

I'll edit this page later

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume5 Chapter1 2

2008-09-30T15:47:20Z

Lilm07:

===<noinclude>Research. </noinclude>Part 2.===

And a few days later.

"Valentine's Day?"

Yumi didn't expect anything to begin with, and Shimako-san tilted her head, asking, "What do you mean?"

"… Umm."

Yumi thought while scracthing her non-itchy head.

How predictable. Shimako-san was clearly not the kind of person who gave chocolate to people on the fourteenth of February every year.

"Oh, Yumi-san, even I know about Valentine's Day."

She giggled politely. Oh, that's good, Yumi sighed, relieved. She didn't know what she'd do if she had to explain Valentine's Day from scratch.

"Saint Valentine, or Saint Valentinus, there're lots of pronunciations, but in Japan they call him 'Valentain' don't they."

"Vale…?"

"Valentine. The name of an Italian saint that was martyred. February fourteen is a holiday for him."

"Mmm."

Shimako-san's explanation sounded extraordinarily genuine and dignified.
Regretfully, she wasn't able to ask about this in the sanctuary. Instead, they were in the dressing room inside the gymnasium. It was the break-time before physical education, so the appearances of other students' thighs and in their underwears leapt into her eyes.

Yumi'd paused in the middle of changing for the conversation, so she hurriedly shed her petticoat and put on her knee-high, black spats. Then, she took off the three-quarter sleeved v-neck shirt that she wore instead of a one-piece or a babashirt[http://www.baka-tsuki.net/project/index.php?title=Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Notes#babashirt], and put on a white collared gym shirt that had "1 Peach 33 Fukuzawa" sewed on to the front. And with her arms exposed, she felt goose bumps all over. Not that she could do anything about that, it was retribution for keeping herself too well cared for on a daily basis.

"I don't know when or how the holiday arrived on Japanese shores, but chocolate is very unrelated."

Having finished changing, herself, Shimako-san bundled her soft, cotton-like hair with a plain, thick black rubber band, and then tightened a hachimaki that matched our class color – peach. Shimako-san often looked soft and impossible to restrain, but in truth, she always walked around with a straight back, and no matter the weather, she carried herself without ever letting down. it is like that she's always tense. She looked like such an angel, but you could never figure out what she is thinking, so in a way she is quite mysterious.

"Then, you're not giving Rosa Gigantea chocolate?"

Lowering her voice, Yumi whispered in Shimako-san's ear.

"Oh, that's what you meant."

Shimako-san smiled, finally piecing together what Yumi had meant. She'd been asked, what are you going to do for Valentine's Day? But Yumi thought, wouldn't you normally immediately think about chocolate?

"Chocolate…"

"Yup. Shimako-san became Rosa Gigantea's sister a little earlier than me, right? So I was wondering what you planned for Valentine's Day."

Would you call it research? She wanted to gather as much information as possible and come up with a masterful plan. It was the idea behind her asking around. But Yoshino-san was completely unreliable.

"… I'd not given it any thought."

"Probably."

She didn't feel disappointed at all. Because Shimako-san was a question mark from the start, so she'd given up before she'd asked.

Yumi and Shimako-san's image of Valentine's Day was too different. After all, she talked about Saint Valetine. She'd probably never done something as mundane as sending a gift of chocolate. … Probably not even to her father.

"I'm sorry I couldn't serve as a reference."

Shimako-san concluded the conversation the same way as Yoshino-san and stepped out of the dressing room.

Even with a sweatshirt and a jersey training pant, February physical education was tough. The light jogging to warm-up bodies didn't work, because cold air drifted through the space in the cloth, so it ended up being more of a war of attrition. Blowing hot air into her cupped hands, Yumi simply wanted to avoid jamming her fingers as she ran.

Because today, they were going to play basketball.

<noinclude>
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;"
|-
| Return to [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru|Main Page]]
| Back to [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter1_1|Part 1]]
| Forward to [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter1_3|Part 3]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume5 Chapter1 1

2008-09-30T15:36:13Z

Lilm07:

===<noinclude>Research. </noinclude>Part 1.===

"Valentine's Day?"

Yoshino-san repeated after a blink.

"Aww, it's that season already?"

Yumi had brought up the topic as they walked through the hallway toward the Rose Mansion after school.

Because, she thought, now that the student council elections were over, it was time to turn her attention to Valentine's Day.

"Already? The department stores and supermarkets start fighting over Valentine's Day about a month before the day."

"Right, right. … Less than three weeks."

Yoshino-san, wearing gloves, bent her fingers and groaned. It was unusual, because Yoshino-san was always at least a step ahead of Yumi, so the fact that she'd forgotten about Valentine's Day… after all, she talks about "first-strike victory" being her motto, so she was the type who'd already have thought things out by now.

"I guess people are built to not think about things they don't like."

"What?"

Yumi asked.

She'd been placing her hands over her ears to warm them, after using the disposable hand warmers in her pockets, so she didn't hear it very well.

"Just as I said. Valentine's Day bums me out."

"Why? You don't give Rei-sama chocolate?"

"Of course I do. Every year. … Which means I have to give her chocolate this year, too."

Yoshino-san seemed extremely depressed. Heavyhearted, and her legs must have become heavy, too, because she stopped dead in her tracks.

They'd just popped out into the courtyard. The Lillian Girls' Academy student council staff headquarters, the Rose Mansion, stood in their sights.

"Well, it's not like you must, but it'd be odd if an annual thing were to stop this year of all years, right?"

"Right, because she'd be stunned if I didn't give her a Valentine's gift after the 'Yellow Rose Revolution.' Considering Rei-chan's personality, anyway."

"You don't want to give her chocolate, Yoshino-san?"

As they spoke, they arrived at the Rose Mansion, but she gave no signs of wanting to enter yet, so they leaned against the door and continued their conversation. Yumi was actually really cold, but she brought the topic up herself, and it'd be horrible if Rei-sama were to hear them, so she endured it. Rei-sama would become depressed by the smallest things if Yoshino-san was involved.

"It's not that I don't want to give her something."

But in Yoshino-san's case, it was what she would '''give''' that was the problem.

"Because it's Rei-chan, you know? Can you imagine the pressure I feel? What am I supposed to do, in exchange for the chocolate cake that grows every year?"

"Eh, what? Rei-sama gives you a present, too?"

"Yes."

Apparently they exchanged chocolate pastry every year. And then they'd exchange candy and cookie on White Day the next month.

"Chocolate cake that grows every year…"

For a moment, Yumi felt envious, but then when she imagined being on the receiving end, she realized how much pressure that would be.

Yoshino-san's onee-sama, Hasekura Rei-sama, was the type of person with very-short hair waving around a shinai, so she might seem one way, but in truth she was a girl that absolutely loved baking snacks, so she was almost like a professional when it came to cookies and cake.

"It was alright so far, I mean, I used to have a sickly body, right? I don't think she expected much, at all, so it was okay that I'd give her store-bought chocolate-"

But that wouldn't work anymore.

And on top of that, Yoshino-san had the added burden of having broken up earlier, and then reconciling. So it wouldn't look proper unless she opened the new chapter in their relationship with a flourish. Thus, Yoshino-san was feeling pressure from all sorts of angles. Maybe that's why her subconscious had deliberately sealed away any thoughts about Valentine's Day.

Of course, Rei-sama would probably be happy with any chocolate Yoshino-san would give her. So "not tolerating store-bought chocolate" was more Yoshino-san's own will. And she was just cornering herself like that.

(…)

But Yoshino-san knew that. That's why Yumi didn't say anything. Even if they both thought it was sad, everyone has things they seriously ponder and worry about.

"I wonder why we're stuck giving chocolate."

White breath poured out of Yoshino-san's mouth.

"I don't think that's the case? You could give something else. Like, something handmade."

"Handmade?"

A twitch. Yoshino-san's eyebrows furrowed.

"Ah…!"

[[Image:MM_v05_03.jpg|thumb]]
Yumi thought, "Shoot!" the moment she said it, but it was too late. She'd wanted to lend her friend a hand, but instead she dunked her in a bog herself.

"Hand-knit sweaters? Or mufflers?"

Yoshino-san looked dejected as she spoke.

"… Sorry. I wasn't thinking."

"No, it's not Yumi-san's fault."

The gloves that were warming Yoshino-san's hands were handmade by Rei-sama. Not just her gloves, but the lap blanket she used during class, her winter zabuton covers, they were all handmade by Rei-sama.

When it came to Rei-sama, she wasn't just about baking, her knitting was also very professional. So when faced with someone like that, just what kind of handmade thing could you give? Gosh, with different onee-sama, you end up with vastly different worries, Yumi thought.

"Sorry I'm not any help."

Lowering her shoulders, Yoshino-san reached for the doorknob.

"What?"

"This Valentine's Day. Yumi-san, you're giving Sachiko-sama chocolate, aren't you? And you wanted advice."

"Wow! You see through everything."

There's detective Yoshino for you. But when she praised her, she was given a bitter smile.

"Yumi-san's just too easy to guess."

She mumbled, exasperated. Rosa Gigantea always teases her about it, but what she thinks is actually always revealed in her face.

When they opened the door, her skin felt slightly warmer, and they could faintly hear the friendly chatter from upstairs.

"Ah."

They both heard their onee-sama's voices among the chatter, and with glittering eyes rushed to the stairs, vying to be first. Their cuffs of their skirts tossed so that if their onee-sama were to have seen them, they would have been scolded, "How naughty!"

Yumi's heart beat quickly at the thought of Valentine's Day.

Excitement and fascination mixed and made her feel restless.

And that happened around the end of January.

<noinclude>
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;"
|-
| Return to [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru|Main Page]]
| Back to [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Prologue|Prologue]]
| Forward to [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter1_2|Part 2]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume5 Prologue

2008-09-30T15:28:20Z

Lilm07:

== Prologue ==

[[Image:MM_v05_02.jpg|339px]][[Image:MM_v05_01.jpg|339px]]

"Gokigenyou."

"Gokigenyou."

The clear morning greeting travels through the serene, blue sky.

Today, once again, the maidens that gather in the Virgin Mary's garden smile purely to one another as they pass under the tall gateway.

Wrapping their innocent bodies and souls are the deep-coloured school uniform.

Walking slowly as to not disturb the plaits in their skirts and so as not to toss their white sailor scarves into disarray... such is the standard of modesty here. Running because one is in danger of missing class, for instance, is much an undignified sight that students do not wish it upon themselves here.

Lillian Private Academy for Women.

Founded in Meiji 34, this academy was originally intended for the young women of nobility, and is now a Catholic academy of prestigious tradition. Placed in downtown Tokyo, where you can still see traces of Musashi Field's greenery, it is protected by God, a garden where maidens can receive tutelage from pre-school to university.

Time passes, and even now, in Heisei, three era-names past Meiji, it is a valuable academy, where nurtured ladies raised in greenhouses are shipped out in carefully packaged boxes after 18 years of schooling - an arrangement that continues to survive.

Now, Lillian Girls' Academy welcomed February with open arms.

When it comes to February, the first event that comes to mind is Valentine's Day.

Who was that? Who said 'setsubun'?

Think about it. Wearing an ogre mask, shouting and throwing beans at each other, don't you think elementary school is around when you grow past that? As proof, look at the department stores during this season. The big space set aside for groceries isn't enough, they even use the display tables usually saved for bags and scarf sales for chocolate. It's never the beans used for throwing, those are usually just piled in a wagon at the supermarket.

And of course, the taste of sweet chocolate that melts in your mouth wins always. Also, giving chocolate to someone you like feels so much better than throwing beans at an ogre.

What? How does Valentine's Day come into the picture for an all-girls' school?

No worries. Gender doesn't get in the way of that precious feeling of "thinking of someone." Even the most stubborn of teachers avert their gazes that day.

That's why the fourteenth of February is the perfect chance for, along with chocolate, presenting the feelings you stowed away deep into your heart, or for showing your appreciation for everything the other person has done for you.

<noinclude>
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;"
|-
| Return to [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter1_1|Chapter 1 Part 1]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>